Retired ref Bova joining Knight for autographs

Retired Big Ten basketball referee Phil Bova and former Indiana coach Bobby Knight will be signing autographs, including Bova’s book, “Throwin Back the Chair,” on March 8 in Columbus.

It’s been a while since retired Big Ten basketball referee Phil Bova and former Indiana coach Bobby Knight have met face to face.

Bova said it’s been “about 30 years,” but that ends March 8 at the Midwest Sports Spectacular in Columbus. The event runs from March 6-8. Knight will be at the event signing autographs, and Bova will be there selling and signing his recent book, “Throwing Back The Chair.”

It chronicles the Westlake resident’s longtime career as a ref. Included in the book is one of college basketball’s most outrageous incidents when in February 1985 Knight was so upset by a call in a game against Indiana, he hurled a chair across the floor at IU’s Assembly Hall in Bloomington, Indiana.

Knight was thrown out of the game by the three-man referee crew — one of which was Bova. Last month was the 35th anniversary of the incident.

Bova, who will also be at the event on March 7, said he and Knight will be side by side during a portion of Knight’s appearance.

“I’m really looking forward to seeing him again,” said Bova. “There will never be another guy like him … After this, we may never see each other again. He’s been a big part of my life as a referee.”

Knight is scheduled to make his March 8 appearance starting at noon. Other notables appearing at the show on March 8 include Archie Griffin, Bernie Kosar, Bobby Knight, Cris Carter, Paul Horning and Urban Meyer.

The Midwest Sports Spectacular — at the Crowne Plaza Columbus North — is one of Ohio’s largest sports cards and collectibles shows.

Admission is $10, and children 12 and under are free. For more information, go to: https://ohiosportsgroup.com/2020midwest-sports-spectacular/.